Bologne Reforms
On June 19, 1999, the Bologna Declaration was signed by twenty-nine European countries. The Republic of Croatia joined the Declaration in May 2001 in Prague.
Bologna Declaration stresses that higher education is a part of society that can create "a more perfect and a more influential Europe", especially when it comes to developing and strengthening common democratic, cultural, social, scientific and technological aspects.
Its goals are as follows:
• Accepting the system of easily recognizable and comparable academic and professional degrees and the introduction of additions to diplomas for the purpose of quicker and easier employment and international competitiveness of the EHEA
• Accepting the unique system of two cycles of studying: undergraduate and postgraduate. The first is a three-year program, and a requirement for qualification on the European labor market, while the other one leads to a master’s or a doctoral degree
• Introduction of a credit system (ECTS). Credits can also be accumulated outside the system of higher education through lifelong learning programs
• Promoting mobility and overcoming obstacles to free movements of students and instructors
• Promoting European cooperation in securing quality
• Promoting the required European dimension in the field of high education
Source:
Ministry of Science, Education, and Sports
